‘Super El Nino’ threat looms as Pacific waters warm

Extreme warming in the Pacific Ocean is poised to shake the global climate system. After successive “hottest year on record” milestones driven by climate change, scientists are now warning of a destructive “Super El Nino.” Triggered by the heating of equatorial waters, this massive energy transfer is expected to cause flooding in some regions and crippling droughts in others, threatening crops and cities alike.

High risk for Northern Hemisphere and India

Japan’s Meteorological Agency has raised the alarm, putting the probability of a devastating El Nino for the Northern Hemisphere at 70 percent. In India, the vital monsoon rains could drop to their lowest level in three years. Projections from the United States are more cautious: while the chance of an El Nino event is seen at 90 percent, the likelihood of the “Super” scenario is estimated between 20 and 30 percent.

Historic parallels and global impact

However, the current warming pattern bears troubling similarities to the 1877 event that destroyed crops and led to millions of famine-related deaths. The combination of human-driven global warming and this natural cycle points to a new series of temperature records. Experts warn that Earth is heading into one of the most turbulent and hot climate periods in modern history over the next two years.